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It’s January, 2017, a time for resolutions if you are into that sort of thing, a time for renewed commitment. One of the biggies for writers seems to be “Make more time for writing.” Well, if somebody figures out how to make more time, I hope they are not greedy with such a valuable formula. I could see that kind of know-how coming in handy, and if you’re a writer, I guess you know what I’m going to say next–Since you can’t make more time, you have to free up some of the time you have for writing. And that’s true, but it’s deeper than that. Writing has to become a lifestyle. It’s not something you do–it is you–it’s there in everything you do, and that’s not an easy task, not for me anyway. Distractions are bountiful in this world, and I know I’m going to trail off after a few, but hopefully I’ll do better at getting back on track. . . . And so, I leave you with this:

Quote:

“People can say whatever they want about the sport of bodybuilding, but to get prepared to do a contest or even think about doing a contest, or even to get into decent shape, it requires a certain amount of discipline, and it comes from taking a new year’s resolution to a lifestyle.”

A long time ago an idea for a story popped into my head that I couldn’t forget¾an idea that I thought would make a pretty good story–“if” told right. I planned to write that story, but I kept putting it off. A friend of mine that I had spoken to about this would occasionally ask if I had started on the story yet, and for a long time my answer was, no. I was afraid–afraid I would not be able to tell the story as it should be told. But I was even more afraid that I would never have another idea for a story. Well, I eventually started that story–didn’t finish it though, at least not yet, but other ideas have come along. At times it seems too many ideas. Some I did finish, some are still in waiting. Writing begets ideas. Reading begets ideas. Not too many ideas, just not enough time . . . And so, I leave you with this:

So you write fiction? Guess that means you can just say what you want, right? Well, I guess you can…maybe once. But if you want folks to read your writing, your story needs to be grounded in truth. Give your reader enough of what is real¾whether it’s the terrain, the sights, the smells, the animals, the weapons, etc. of the time and place of your story¾enough that they are willing to shelve their disbelief long enough to follow you from front cover to back and then hopefully from book to book. . . And so, I leave you with this Quote:

“Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.”

Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.. . . And so, I leave you with this:

Quote:

“What has bothered and angered radical Muslims is that I’m a non-Muslim writing anything at all about Islam. But this is fiction, and I don’t think Islam is above criticism or fictionalization any more so than Judaism, Christianity, Mormonism or Hinduism is.”

If you are a writer, then you already know how important reading is. If you don’t know, then you are not a writer. A good book is an idea machine. Stories will pop into your head from seemingly nowhere. Sometimes it’s an idea for a story you’re already writing. A good book is like a pool of ideas from which to drink. And what’s strange is that most of the ideas will have nothing to do with the story you’re reading. . . . And so, I leave you with this:

I started reading Stephen King’s “Mr. Mercedes” this week. He makes it seem so easy. But if you write, you know it’s not. True enough, some stories come easier than others, but even those take a lot of work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while creating. Just think of what you can do as an author of fiction. If I want a green and orange striped horse in my story, I can put it there. My job is to give the reader a reason to believe in that animal’s existence and while I haven’t created that odd-colored Equus caballus . . . yet, someday I just might. . . And so, I leave you with this:

Quote:

“There are only two worlds – your world, which is the real world, and other worlds, the fantasy. Worlds like this are worlds of the human imagination: their reality, or lack of reality, is not important. What is important is that they are there. These worlds provide an alternative. Provide an escape. Provide a threat. Provide a dream, and power; provide refuge, and pain. They give your world meaning. They do not exist; and thus they are all that matters.”

A name from the past for those of you who know who he is. I knew him as Billy Jack, from the movies: In 1967 – “The Born Losers”, in 1971 – “Billy Jack”, and in 1974 – “The Trial of Billy Jack”.

I didn’t know he was dead—has been for going on two years now. He was 82. He was probably in his early forties when I first saw one of his movies. I thought he was younger.

I’m sure Tom Laughlin has popped into my head at some time or other since I last saw one of his movies (mid 70’s), but I’ve never had the inclination to look him up on the net—until this week, and I find out he’s dead.

No matter your age, there’s a lot of folk we grew up listening to, reading, watching, and we’ve lost many of them—lose more of them every year. Just last week, we lost Pat Conroy. Equally, no matter the age of the ones we’ve lost, it feels as if we didn’t have them around nowhere near long enough.

The bottom line to this piece is this: It doesn’t matter how many years we are allowed on this earth, they fly by, especially when viewed in retrospect. Don’t waste it. We all have so very little of it left. . . And so, I leave you with this:

“Finally, she mused that human existence is as brief as the life of autumn grass, so what was there to fear from taking chances with your life?”
~~ Mo Yan, Red Sorghum~~